Manually operated pressure tool



April`5, 1938. J. JENSEN MANUALLY OPERATED PRESSURE TOOL Filed Ap'ril 1o, 1937 2 EEE 7 fITToQJ ys Patented Apr. 5, 1938 l UNITED STATES MANUALLY OPERATED PRESSURE TOOL John Jensen, Rockford, Ill., assignor to Whitney Metal Tool Company, Rockford, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application April 1o, 1937, serial No. 136,151

s claims., (ci. 14o-113) The invention relates to manually manipulable pressure-tools such as splicing tools for wire, sheet metal shears, punches, and the like.

The general object of the invention is to provide an improved device of the class described which includes a free-running antifriction gear- `ing capable of extremely large force multiplication. A more specific object of the invention is to provide an improved splicing tool adapted to effect a pronounced ow of metal in the connector sleeve in clamping the same to the associated wires.

Further objects and advantages oi the invention will become apparent as the following description proceeds and -the features of novelty which characterize the invention are pointed out V with particularity inthe claims annexed to and forming a part of this speciflcatlon.

For a better understanding "of the invention reference may be had to' the accompanying draw- -0 ing in which Figure 1 is a side elevation partly in section 'of a splicing tool embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical transverse section along the line 2-2 in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical transverse section along the line 3-3 in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is an enlargedy fragmentary horizontal transverse section along the line 4-4 in Fig. 1.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, the invention in its exemplary embodiment has been shown for purposes of illustration as applied to aportable wire splicing tool having a pair of cooperating mating dies Ill-II for clamping successi've portions of a tubular connectorv I2 about the abutting ends oi wires I3-I4 (Fig. 4). It will be understood by those skilled in the art, however, that mechanisms embodying the invention may also be adapted for a wide variety oi' other forms of dies and metal forming tools as well as other devices. The mechanism herein illustrated includes in general a supporting structure for the dies III-II and a'novel form of antifriction gearing designated generally by the numeral I5 which 45 may be manually manipulated to-exert-an extremely heavy pressure on the dies, this pressure being of the order lof -35 tons or more. The parpreferably includes a pair of relatively movable jaws which may be detachably secured together on opposite sides of the dies to form a strong rigid support during the splicing operation and which may then be swung to open position to facilitate` ready removal of the spliced wire. Thus, upon reference to Fig. 1, it will be seen that the die I0 is dovetailed in a supporting block I6 slidably mounted on wear plates II-I8 in a U-shaped yoke I9 forming one supporting jaw while the die II is dovetailed on the face of a second jaw or link pivotally connected to one oi the arms of the yoke I9 by a pivot pin 2|. The yoke I9 has a base plate I9 formed on the lower side thereof which may be utilized to secure the same in position. The supporting block I6 for the die I0 is restrained against sidewise movement through splined connections formed by ribs v22 and 23 on the inner faces of the arms of the yoke I9 fitting within complemental grooves in the wear plates I1 and I8, respectively. A detachable connection between vthe upper end of the link 20 and yoke I9 is formed by a second link 24 pivoted at its inner end in the bifurcated end of the upper yoke arm by a pin 25 and secured to the-link 20 by a removable slip pin 26. It will thus be seen that when the link 20 is swung to the vertical position shown in Fig. 1 andthe slip pin 26 inserted into the registering openings in links 20 and 24, a strong rigid support is formed for the dies Ill--I I. After the die forming operation has been completed the slip pin 26 may -be removed and the link 20 rotated in a counterclockwise direction to facilitateeasy removal of the spliced smooth running screw thread therebetween. In

the particular construction illustrated these members comprise a rotatable spindle 29 and a telescoping sleeve`30 positioned in a cylindrical housing`3| formed in the base of the yoke I9. A dog screw 32 (Fig. 2) bearing against a iiattened surface 33 formed on the side of the sleeve 30 prevents rotationof the sleeve in: the housing. Complemental spiral grooves 34 an'd 35 are formed on the adjacent surfaces of the spindle 29 and sleeve 30, resrctively, and are adapted to receive aseriesl of balls 36. 'I'he balls thus positioned in the spiral grooves formed in the sleeve and spindle constitute a free running antifr-iction equivalent of a screw thread between these telescoping members. Annular end plates 31 and 39l having graphite packings 39 and 49 therein are detachablyl secured to opposite ends of the sleeve 3|! and prevent the entrance of dirt or other foreign matter into the screw mechanism. An annular shoulder 30'L in the` housing 30 abuts against an annular flange 3i* on the sleeve 3| to prevent outward movement of the sleeve.

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, an improved arrangement is provided for preventing jamming pf the balls 36 as they approach the ends of the spiral grooves during the rotation of the spindle 29. In general, an arrangement is preferably provided for ejecting'the balls as they approach one end of one of the spiral grooves and returning them to the opposite end thereof. Thus, upon reference to Figs. 1 and 3, it will be seen that as the spindle 29 is rotated in'a clockwise direction (as viewed in Fig. 3) the rotation of the spindle continues, the balls move through the transfer passage 43 to the outer end thereof from which they are directed by a second dog 44 (Fig. 2) having a curvedinner face 45,

back into the cooperating spiral grooves. When the spindle 29 is rotated in the opposite direction the balls progress through the spiral grooves and back through the transfer passage 43 in the opposite direction. It will thus be seen that a smooth free running equivalent of a screw thread is had in which the possibility of jamming ofthe balls at the end of the spiral tracks which carry them is obviated. Y

An arrangement ofthe type described in which the balls in the spiral grooves areprevented from jamming by ejecting the same at theend of their path of travel in .the grooves is particularly adapted for .use in a splicing tool such as that herein disclosed or other devices in which the retractive movement of the operating members is notimpeded by the work piece. Thus, in the splicing tool hereinbefore described, the die I6 may be freely retracted after compressing the connector sleeve I2 without sticking vdue to its,

contact with the sleeve. As a result,'there is no jarring effect on the balls 36 which would cause them to -be loosened. Consequently, they are likely tobecomemjammed'vand Aiiattenedafter con# tinued use if some arrangementis not provided for ejecting them from the Aend of their path of travel in the spiral grooves. In the case of punch presses and similar mechanisms, however,

the retractive movement of the punch or die is connected to the supporting block I6for the die impeded by itsfrictional contact with the metal throughwhich it is passed so that it pulls free with'a jerk. This uneven movement ordinarily serves to loosen the balls in the spiral grooves so that in such instrumentalities it is frequently unnecessary to use such an ejection arrangement as is herein set forth. v

The inner end of the spindle 29 is operatively I9 by a pair of cap sciews 46 fitted in opposite end of the spindle. It will be noted upo'n reference to Fig. 4 that the upper one of the cap screws 46 also serves to hold the die retaining clips 21 in position. As the spindle 29 is rotated by a suitable manual operating handle 43 connected thereto by a socket 49 the die supporting block I6 and its attached die I9 are thus moved toward or away from the cooperating die II, depending upon the direction of rotation of the spindle.

In the operation of the mechanism described above. the tubular connector sleeve blank I2 is slipped over the adjacent ends of wires I3 and I4 which are to be spliced together and the connector is then positioned between the dies III- I I. The link 20 is swung to its vertical position shown in Fig. 1 and the slip pin 26 inserted so as to maintain the"dies in alinement during the clamping operation.' The die I9 is then moved toward the die I I to bring the same into clamping engagement with the connector sleeve I2 by rotating the manual operating handle 49. It will be noted that upon reference to Fig 4 that the active faces of the dies III-II are adapted to cover only a relatively small portion of the length of the connector sleeve so that the clamping operation is repeated a number of times throughout the length of the sleeve in order to clamp it in position on the wires. Inview `of the antifriction gearing arrangement utilized it is possible to exert an extremely heavy pressure'of the order of 35 tons or more on the dies even though the mechanism is merely manually manipulated. As a consequence, a substantial flow of metal in the connector sleeve may be effected so that a verystrong splice is had. In fact, v'it has been found that when using such a mechanism with properly shaped dies, a splice can be formed which has a tensile strength greater than that of the wires which are joined together.

Although a particular' embodiment of the invention has been shown and described in some detail for purposes of illustration, there is no screw means associated-with said metal forming.

members for exerting an extremely heavy clamping pressure thereon by manual manipulation including two members arranged in telescoping re-"` therebetween,- at least one of said telescoping members having a spiral groove therein receiving said balls, and means for ejecting the balls from between. saidtelescoping members as they appreach the ends of said groove to prevent jamming thereof.

2. A splicing tool device of the class described comprising, in combination, cooperating relatively movable metal forming compression die members, screw means associated with said metal forming members for exerting an extremely heavy clamping pressure thereon'by manual manipulation including two members arranged in telescoping relation with each other anda series of balls engaging both of said telescoping members to form the equivalent of a smoothly running screw thread therebetween, lat least one of said telescoping members having a spiral groove therein receiving said balls, and means including a transfer pas- Asage disposed exteriorly of said groove for shifting the balls from one end of said groove to the other to prevent jamming thereof. l

3. A portable splicing tool for compressing a generally tubular connector about the abutting ends of a pair of wires to be spliced, comprising of one of said dies to form a sliding support therefor, a link pivotally connected to one of the arms of said yoke and forming a support for the other of said dies, and screw means associated with said dies for exerting a strong clamping pressure thereon by manual manipulation to cause a substantial iiow of metal in the connector including two members arranged in telescoping relation with each other carried by,said yoke and a series of balls engaging both members to form v10 l the equivalentof a screw thread therebetween.

JOHN JENSEN. 

